Upscale Dining at Neighborhood Prices
MICHELE’S DINING LOUNGE
2761 E OAKLAND PARK BLVD,
OAKLAND PARK, FL
954-533-1919
By RICHARD HACK
Sweep into Michele’s Dining Lounge and enter a world of sophisticated elegance. Beige, browns and shades of mocha cradle customers in a warm embrace that stands in stunning denial of its strip mall home where the restaurant neighbors with a hair salon, a cigar emporium, and a day spa complete with thai massage.
Inside, however, is where the magic begins. A mirrored water-wall greets you at the entrance, while subtle lighting sets the stage for what promises to be a very special occasion. This is restaurateur Michele Bonarigo’s place, and she brings no small amount of talent to the table. She grew up in upstate New York working in eateries owned by her father and uncles, and learned her lessons well. Now it’s her turn to run the show, and Michele’s Dining Lounge has found an audience of swagged guests who fill the place to capacity on Tuesday through Saturday evenings.
The comprehensive menu comes equipped with clever LED lighting for the visually challenged – all the better to see the smart array of appetizers, entrees and desserts that tempt through descriptions that ooze with flavor even before you’ve made a selection.
We elected to start with flash-fried calamari with a pomodoro reduction ($10), escargots en croûte ($15)—snails in puff pastry in any other language, and a pan-fried jumbo lump crab cake ($15) with a spicy red pepper coulis.
All well-chosen selections, though slightly heavy on sauces that unnecessarily masked the delicacies of the dishes.
At $24, the grilled salmon entrée was a celebration in flavors – coconut, curry, and lime accenting a flawlessly prepared six-ounce portion. The medium-rare filet blue ($34), otherwise known as nine-ounces of heaven, was served on a square white plate that accented the amazingly juicy steak, sautéed asparagus and grilled portabella mushrooms, highlighted by a blue cheese sauce that drizzled perfection. And none of us could resist tasting the roasted pork tenderloin ($24) with wilted baby arugula in an apple/fig glaze that was presented on the plate in a design worthy of an art award. We’re told the dish is a specialty of chef Michael Kridlow.
We believe it!
Our server recommended the Francis Ford Coppola’s Director’s Cut Cabernet Sauvignon ($13 a glass), which displayed tones of cherry and chassis, and was such an excellent complement to the meal that seconds were ordered before our plates were licked cleaned.
Of course, there’s always room for dessert – at least at our table – with votes lodged for the lemon tart with raspberry sauce ($8), the apple streusel with ice cream and caramel sauce ($7.50), and the crème brûlée ($8) – three forks please. Since no one was eager to accept a proxy, we ordered them all and shared the decadence. Everyone knows that calories don’t count when you hold your breath, and that was exactly what we did at the first indulgent taste.
If you’re in the mood for a lighter nosh, there is a separate menu available only at the bar offering appetizers at $10 per item. A personal favorite is the dynamic Ahi Tuna Sliders with wasabi aioli and Asian slaw on a challah bun. Show up at barside for Happy Hour between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. and get an amazing 50% off on food and drink.
Michele’s Dining Lounge is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday evenings from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. with lunch served Tuesday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, by the way, is LA-TEA-DA night with $5 mojitos and cosmos filling the 10-ounce glassware. Wednesday night features the glamorous songstress Chris Janes. Her trilling begins at 7 p.m. sharp. Thursday evening, Cecilia Roy takes control of the white baby grand and adds jazz to the mix from 7 p.m.
On Friday, the piano stylings of Sal Fazio hold court at 5 p.m., followed by the note perfect Lavon the Sax Man Extraordinaire at full volume starting at 8 p.m. (Forget about talking when Lavon takes control of the mike.) Sal Fazio repeats on Saturday at 8 p.m. to finish the week with an elegant touch.
The restaurant boasts the slogan, “Upscale Dining at Neighborhood Prices.” While I don’t know what neighborhood you come from, from where I sit, this is not an inexpensive night on the town. However, given the quality of the food, the elegant setting, the friendly efficient staff, and the mix of movers and shakers who’ll become your new best friends, Michele’s Dining Lounge is worth every single penny. Save up your cash and go, ASAP.
In this week’s Style & Entertainment, Warren Day treats you to a sneak preview of the films being shown at Tampa and Fort Lauderdale’s Gay and Lesbian Film Festivals in Film; Paul Rubio takes us with him to Santorini and Rome with his “Port Highlights” of the Celebrity Silhouette cruise in Travel, and Jean Doherty shows us how to be the chef with a delectable recipe for Chili Con Carne in Recipe.